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Barn Hand Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Barn Hand information

See Iowa salary details

$13

$18

$22

How much do barn hand jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for barn hand in Iowa is $18.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.84 and $18.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges a Barn Hand might face during daily operations?

Barn Hands often encounter challenges such as managing unpredictable animal behavior, adapting to varying weather conditions, and handling physically demanding tasks like cleaning stalls or moving feed. Working early mornings, weekends, and holidays is common to ensure animals receive continuous care. Effective communication with other staff members is essential for coordinating tasks and maintaining animal welfare. Those who are adaptable and proactive tend to thrive in this environment.

What is the difference between Barn Hand vs Stable Hand?

AspectBarn HandStable Hand
CertificationsNone typically requiredNone typically required
Work EnvironmentBarns, stables, outdoor areasStables, riding arenas, outdoor paddocks
Job DutiesCleaning stalls, feeding, basic maintenanceFeeding, grooming, caring for horses
Industry UsageCommon in farms, ranches, equestrian centersCommon in stables, riding schools, equestrian facilities

Both roles involve caring for horses and maintaining stables, but a Barn Hand typically performs more general farm chores and maintenance, while a Stable Hand focuses more on direct horse care and grooming. The roles often overlap, but the Stable Hand may require more hands-on horse handling skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Barn Hand, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Barn Hand, you need a strong understanding of animal care, physical stamina, and basic maintenance skills, with experience around horses or livestock often preferred. Familiarity with tools like pitchforks, grooming kits, and sometimes small machinery is important, though formal certifications are rarely required. Dependability, attention to detail, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the well-being of animals, the smooth operation of the barn, and the safety of both staff and animals.

What are barn hands?

Barn hands are workers responsible for the daily care and maintenance of animals and facilities on a farm or ranch, particularly in barns. Their duties typically include feeding and watering animals, cleaning stalls, grooming livestock, and assisting with basic animal health care. Barn hands may also help with repairs, equipment maintenance, and other general farm tasks. This role is essential for ensuring the well-being of animals and the smooth operation of agricultural activities.
What are popular job titles related to Barn Hand jobs in Iowa? For Barn Hand jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Barn Hand jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Barn Hand jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Barn Hand jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Barn Hand job openings:
Infographic showing various Barn Hand job openings in Iowa as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Locum Tenens, 4% Internship, 55% Full Time, 35% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,563 per year, or $18.1 per hour.
Production Worker (Harvest Floor)

Production Worker (Harvest Floor)

FARMERS UNION INDUSTRIES LLC

Estherville, IA

$20.49/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

NOW OFFERING A $1,500 SIGN-ON BONUS (Paid in Increments Throughout First Year of Employment)

*Spanish Translation Available Below / Traducción al Español Disponible Más Abajo*

Farmers Union Industries, LLC, also known as FUI, is a leading agricultural-based manufacturing company headquartered in Redwood Falls, MN. Our current operations include Central Bi-Products, Northland Choice, Midwest Grease, Artex Manufacturing, Redwood Farms Meat Processors, and Performance Pet Products. Please visit our website at fuillc.com to learn more!

Redwood Farms Meat Processors, located in Estherville, IA, processes hogs of varying sizes allowing us to offer a variety of cuts and cut sizes. Learn more about what we do at fuillc.com/redwood-farms/.

Redwood Farms is now accepting applications for Production Worker on the Harvest Floor! We offer an hourly starting wage of $20.49/Hr., a weekly paycheck, and opportunities to increase your pay as you learn more skills! Our complete benefits package includes health, dental, vision, PTO, paid holidays, an impressive 401K match, and much more!

Areas of Accountability 

All areas of accountability to be delivered with GRIT - our values of Generosity, Relationships, Integrity, and Teamwork

Clean, Prepare, & Inspect Meat for Processing                   Package Offal Products                   Follow USDA Policies, Procedures, & Regulations

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Receive stunned hog from Barn Workers, begin exsanguination, and then shackle and hang carcass on rail system

Wash carcass with hose and take various measures to prevent against foreign material contamination

Remove undesirable by-products or blemishes with knives, air knives, and other processing equipment

Sharpen, maintain, and sanitize knives, as required

Operate offal washing equipment; closely monitor operation time and product to prevent quality loss

Package offal materials by accurately weighing and labeling packages; palletize packages and notify Shipping when product is ready to be stored and/or loaded onto trucks

Communicate with USDA Inspectors regarding carcass inspection and approval

Use a trolley to transport materials

Observe production equipment and escalate any concerns or malfunctions to Plant Maintenance

Cross-train in other areas of production and provide back-up support, as needed

Keep leadership aware of any concerns or issues that arise

Follow all company safety policies, practices, procedures, and improvement initiatives

Comply with all regulatory compliance requirements including environmental and food safety

Perform general housekeeping to maintain a clean and safe work environment

Maintain regular and predictable on-site attendance

Situations may arise that require employees to temporarily or permanently assume responsibility for tasks not specifically outlined in this job description. Employees may be requested to work additional hours and/or accommodate a heavier than normal workload. 

Qualifications

Experience in a manufacturing environment, preferred; food and/or hog processing, a plus

Ability to safely use a knife to cut meat; prior knife experience, a plus

Strong attention to detail and desire for high-quality products

Ability to accurately count, complete basic math operations, and read a scale to understand weights

Ability to communicate and accurately and legibly record information

Read and comprehend signs, labels, warnings, and company SOPs in English or Spanish

Ability to follow all USDA policies, procedures, and regulations

Wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and work safely

Ability to work in a facility that processes hogs; be comfortable working with and/or around blood

Willingness to work additional hours or perform work in other areas of the facility, as requested

Must be 18 years of age or older for insurance purposes

Physical Requirements

Consistently and repetitively perform hand and/or wrist movements

Consistently lift heavy objects up to 50 pounds; frequently perform overhead motions

Consistently push and/or pull up to 100 pounds

Consistently bend at the knees and/or waist in potentially awkward positions

Consistently turn and/or twist

Frequently climb ladders or steps up to 5 feet; frequently perform duties on an elevated surface

Stand up to 100% of the workday

Ability to work in an environment with extreme heat, wet/slippery conditions, and/or loud noise levels

Spanish Translation/Traducción al Espanol

AHORA OFRECEMOS UN BONO DE BIENVENIDA DE $1,500 (Pagado en cuotas durante el primer año de empleo)

Farmers Union Industries, LLC, también conocida como FUI, es una empresa líder en manufactura agrícola con sede en Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Nuestras operaciones actuales incluyen Central Bi-Products, Northland Choice, Midwest Grease, Artex Manufacturing, Redwood Farms Meat Processors y Performance Pet Products. ¡Visite nuestro sitio web fuillc.com para obtener más información!

Redwood Farms Meat Processors, ubicada en Estherville, Iowa, procesa cerdos de diferentes tamaños, lo que nos permite ofrecer una variedad de cortes y tamaños. Conozca más sobre lo que hacemos en fuillc.com/redwood-farms/.

¡Redwood Farms ya acepta solicitudes para el puesto de Trabajador de Producción en el Piso de Matanza! Ofrecemos un salario inicial de $20.49 por hora, un sueldo semanal y oportunidades para aumentar su salario a medida que adquiere más habilidades. Nuestro paquete completo de beneficios incluye seguro médico, dental, de la vista, tiempo libre remunerado (PTO), días festivos pagados, una importante contribución al 401K y mucho más.

Áreas de Responsabilidad

Todas las áreas de responsabilidad deben cumplirse con GRIT: nuestros valores de Generosidad, Relaciones, Integridad y Trabajo en Equipo.

Limpiar, preparar e inspeccionar la carne para su procesamiento                    

Empacar productos de vicera

Seguir las políticas, procedimientos y regulaciones del USDA

Deberes y Responsabilidades Esenciales

Recibir el cerdo aturdido de los trabajadores del establo, comenzar el desangramiento y luego encadenar y colgar la carcasa en el sistema de rieles

Lavar la carcasa con manguera y tomar diversas medidas para prevenir la contaminación con materiales extraños

Eliminar subproductos indeseables o imperfecciones con cuchillos, cuchillos de aire y otros equipos de procesamiento

Afilar, mantener y desinfectar los cuchillos, según sea necesario

Operar el equipo de lavado de vicera; supervisar de cerca el tiempo de operación y el producto para evitar la pérdida de calidad

Empacar el vicera pesando y etiquetando con precisión los paquetes. Paletizar los paquetes y notificar al departamento de Envíos cuando el producto esté

listo para ser almacenado o cargado en camiones

Comunicarse con los inspectores del USDA sobre la inspección y aprobación de las carcasas

Usar un carrito para transportar materiales

Observar el equipo de producción y escalar cualquier inquietud o mal funcionamiento al departamento de Mantenimiento de Planta

Capacitarse en otras áreas de producción y brindar apoyo, según sea necesario

Mantener al liderazgo informado sobre cualquier inquietud o problema que surja

Seguir todas las políticas, prácticas, procedimientos e iniciativas de mejora de seguridad de la empresa

Cumplir con todos los requisitos de cumplimiento normativo, incluyendo los de seguridad ambiental y alimentaria

Realizar tareas de limpieza general para mantener un entorno de trabajo limpio y seguro

Mantener una asistencia regular y predecible en el sitio

Pueden surgir situaciones que requieran que los empleados asuman temporal o permanentemente la responsabilidad de tareas no descritas específicamente en esta descripción del puesto. Se les puede solicitar a los empleados que trabajen horas adicionales o se adapten a una carga de trabajo más pesada de lo normal.

Calificaciones

Se valorará la experiencia en un entorno de fabricación; se valorará el procesamiento de alimentos y/o cerdos

Se valorará la capacidad de usar un cuchillo para cortar carne con seguridad; se valorará la experiencia previa con cuchillos

Se valorará la atención al detalle y el deseo de obtener productos de alta calidad

Se valorará la capacidad de contar con precisión, realizar operaciones matemáticas básicas y leer una báscula para comprender pesos

Se valorará la capacidad de comunicarse y registrar información de forma precisa y legible

Se valorará la capacidad de leer y comprender letreros, etiquetas, advertencias y procedimientos operativos estándar (POE) de la empresa en inglés o español

Se valorará la capacidad de cumplir con todas las políticas, procedimientos y regulaciones del USDA

Se valorará el uso del equipo de protección personal (EPP) requerido y el trabajo seguro

Se valorará la capacidad de trabajar en instalaciones que procesan cerdos; se valorará la comodidad al trabajar con sangre o cerca de ella

Se valorará la disponibilidad para trabajar horas adicionales o realizar trabajos en otras áreas de la instalación, según se solicite

Se requiere ser mayor de 18 años para efectos del seguro

Requisitos Físicos

Realizar movimientos de mano y/o muñeca de forma constante y repetitiva

Levantar objetos pesados de hasta 50 libras de forma constante; realizar movimientos frecuentes por encima de la cabeza

Jalar o jalar objetos de hasta 100 libras de forma constante

Doblar las rodillas o la cintura de forma constante en posiciones potencialmente incómodas

Girar o torcer de forma constante

Subir escaleras o escalones de hasta 5 pies de altura con frecuencia; realizar tareas frecuentemente en superficies elevadas

Permanecer de pie el 100% de la jornada laboral

Capacidad para trabajar en entornos con calor extremo, humedad o resbalones, o con niveles de ruido altos